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Russian juggernaut Anatoly Malykhin wants to shed the “temporary” mark on his ONE World Heavyweight Title as he rushes back into action this week.
‘Sladkiy’ will take on reigning World Heavyweight Champion Arjan Bahular in a much-anticipated unification bout at ONE Friday Fights 22 on June 23 at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.
Being the more active fighter of the two, Anatoly Malykhin believes he is the true champion in oaths and deathmatches that make him undisputed when he fights Singh Bhullar.
The 35-year-old hitter said:
“People can see who the real champion is, and now it’s time to prove it. Arjan has pulled out of the fight five or six times. He’s not interesting to anyone; nobody needs him.”
Anatoly Malekhin became the interim world champion in February 2022 when he knocked out Belarusian club Kirill Grishchenko in the second round of the clash.
He then added the ONE Light Heavyweight World Title back in December with an impressive first round KO of former champion Reinier de Ridder of the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Arjan Bhullar makes his first title defense at ONE Friday Fights 22. He won the ONE Heavyweight Championship by topping former division king Brandon Vera with a second-round technical knockout in his title match in May 2021.
The Indian-Canadian fighter has not competed since but has allayed fears of not being in shape, by saying he is active in training and ready to take the fight.
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